The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game are two short stories that explore the idea of violence and its place in society. Although they were written by different authors and set in different time periods, both stories deal with the concept of survival and the lengths to which people will go to ensure their own safety and well-being.
At first glance, The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game may seem vastly different, but upon closer examination, there are several similarities that can be drawn between the two. Both stories revolve around the idea of tradition and the extent to which people are willing to follow customs and rituals, even if they are violent or harmful. In The Lottery, the tradition of stoning a member of the community to death is accepted as a normal part of life, and even though some people express hesitation or discomfort with the practice, they still participate in the selection process. Similarly, in The Most Dangerous Game, the tradition of hunting other human beings is accepted as a way of life for the characters, and even though one of the characters, Rainsford, initially objects to the practice, he eventually succumbs to the desire to survive and becomes a hunter himself.
Another similarity between The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game is the concept of the "other." In both stories, the characters who are targeted for violence are considered outsiders of the group or different in some way. In The Lottery, the person who is chosen to be stoned is selected at random, but they are still seen as an outsider or an enemy. In The Most Dangerous Game, Rainsford is considered an outsider because he is a hunter, while Zaroff sees himself as superior to Rainsford and the other humans he hunts. This theme of the "other" can be seen as a commentary on the way that society often treats those who are perceived as different or outside the norm.
Despite these similarities, there are also several differences between The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game. One of the most significant differences is the setting in which the stories take place. The Lottery is set in a small, rural community, while The Most Dangerous Game is set on a remote island. This difference in setting influences the characters and their motivations, as the characters in The Lottery are bound by their community and its traditions, while the characters in The Most Dangerous Game are free to create their own rules and traditions.
Another difference between the two stories is the way that violence is portrayed. In The Lottery, the violence is more subtle and hidden, as the stoning is presented as a normal part of life and is not shown in graphic detail. In contrast, The Most Dangerous Game portrays violence in a more overt and explicit way, as the characters engage in hand-to-hand combat and hunt one another for sport. This difference in the portrayal of violence reflects the differing attitudes towards violence in the two stories, with The Lottery presenting violence as something that is accepted and almost mundane, while The Most Dangerous Game portrays violence as a thrilling and intense experience.
In conclusion, The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game are two short stories that explore the theme of violence and its place in society. While they have many similarities, such as the idea of tradition and the concept of the "other," they also have several differences, such as the setting and the portrayal of violence. Both stories offer thought-provoking insights into the way that violence can be used to divide and oppress people, and they raise important questions about the role of violence in society.
